He had exhausted the poor soil; he had really no more to say.

He was unfortunately helped by Mr.Gladstone, who, instead of listening in silence to attacks grown stale by their infinite repetition, attempted to correct some of Mr.Chamberlain's statements.

This was especially the case in reference to the famous speech in which Mr.Parnell is spoken of as passing "through rapine to dismemberment." Mr.Chamberlain wished to insist that the language had been applied to all the Irish leaders: Mr.Gladstone insisted that they were applied to Mr.Parnell alone.

This controversy between the Prime Minister and Mr.Chamberlain gave a little life to a speech that hitherto had been falling desperately flat, and as such the interruption was a tactical mistake.
[Sidenote: De mortuis.] But it brought with curious unexpectedness a scene not without pathos and significance.

In the midst of the thrust and ripost of Mr.Gladstone and Mr.Chamberlain, a strange and yet familiar voice was heard to shout out, "They put all the blame on Parnell because he is dead." It was a startling--even an embarrassing interruption.